Re: Bremer makes his move

[JB <jimmetz@xxxxxxx>]

> On Wednesday, December 18, 2002, at 11:45  AM, Berry, Mark S wrote:
>
>> Like it or not, this (Cris Wallace)guy probably doesn't deserve to be
>> called a failure. Call him "lucky" maybe, but I'm happy
>> with lucky any day when it concerns the Boston Celtics.
>
> JoeH
> *****************************
> Anyway, you're right about one thing. Chris Wallace has been lucky.
>
> Mark
>
> **************************
> 	A failure? Not yet?
> 	Well, as Mark so eloquently pointed out, we had our chances to 
> upgrade this team, with those three draft picks and  wound up with 
> Moiso II and Tony Delk.
> 	A total bust? Well, there is a very gifted, but clueless, Kedrick 
> Brown, who deserves another year or two, before that draft is fully 
> evaluated. I don't undervalue Rodney Rogers' short term contribution, 
> to the maturity of this team, but, unless Kedrick turns out to be a 
> starter, here, or brings one in a trade, Wallace fumbled that draft.
> 	Mark, perhaps you did stumble a bit into the "slough of despond," 
> though, with the statements :
> 	
> 	 "The sad truth is, the core of this team through Pierce and Walker's 
> prime
> years is going to be Pierce, Walker, Battie, Eric Williams and Delk. 
> They've
> squandered their best chances to add any help. Now they're looking at 
> late
> first-round picks and year-to-year forays into the NBA scrap heap to 
> fill
> the roster around Baker's bloated contract. Even Shammond is likely to 
> be
> gone after this season, when he's a free agent."
>
> 	Firstly; Wallace's free agent signings were restricted to minimum 
> salary guys, by the owner and secondly; the signings were dictated by 
> Jimmy O'Brien's system, or even direct preference. Jimmy wanted JR 
> Bremer, from Shaw's, as he could shoot the three and played tough 
> defense, not Jaques Vaughn, or Omar Cook, or any other point guard 
> that was out there. He also wanted a center who could shoot threes and 
> a front line player, who could run and pass(Jimmy was quoted in the 
> Globe),not a banger/rebounder, but an athlete. He tried out both 
> Sundov and Wolkowyski, before they were signed. I do not blame Wallace 
> for those signings, as neither Brian Skinner, nor Gary Trent, nor any 
> other big man available, fit O'Brien's job description.
> 	As for the future; we have new ownership, who might be willing to 
> open the purse strings, a bit, as well as a predictably higher tax 
> threshold, so I'm not sure it's fair to say that what he see is what 
> we get, for the duration of Pierce's and Walker's tenure here.
> 	Next summer, they get to go at it again and another playoff 
> experience, will continue to raise the expectations and perhaps lower 
> the salary demands of one of  the many free agents, who will be 
> looking for work, at below what they think  their market value is, as 
> well as  the possibility of signing a 5 million dollar man, as the 
> owners and their relationship to the  tax would allow.
> 	Ultimately though, you hit the nail on the head. Wallace will be 
> remembered for; "The Trade." The universally ridiculed acquisition of 
> Vin Baker.
> 	Is he as cooked as you say? Didn't he play very well against the C's 
> last season? I seem to remember about 29 points and double digit 
> rebounds, as we had no answer for him inside. Did he not also have a 
> pretty good first round in the playoffs, against Tim Duncan, no less?
> 	Wallace knew he has taking a huge risk. He is an NBA lifer, a hoops 
> junkie, since his youth. He heard the stories out of Seattle, he knew 
> the risks of Vin. He took them, because, he, like you, will not be 
> satisfied, even with a late round playoff appearance. He thought Baker 
> was our best chance, at the kind of talent that could get us over the 
> other contenders and into that sweet, final round, of seven games, 
> where Tinker Bell and her pixie dust, might just get us into "never 
> never land."
> 		 As much as I hated the trade and rued the financial impact, of 
> taking on such a perceived slug, I'm at least willing to wait until 
> the end of  the season, to renew my lynch Wallace campaign.
> 	If, as you say, Baker is cooked, so is Wallace. If not, he will get a 
>  lot of votes for executive of the year.
> 	
> 		JB
>
> 	Unchain My Heart !